Wilhelm Johann Schnabel, the son of Clements Schnabel and Eva Marie Gottlieb, was born 30 Mar 1859 in Wiesbaden, Germany. He and his mother, Eva, arrived in New York City aboard the Bremen from Bremen, Germany on 13 Jul 1868 when Wilhelm was 9. Wilhelm and his parents settled in New York City where Wilhelm attended normal school and Clements worked as a “ladies tailor”. On 1 Jul 1870, Eva Marie Gottlieb Schnabel died of tuberculosis in New York City. Clements remarried on 10 Dec 1871 to Caroline Becher at the First German Presbyterian church there. Wilhelm left home two years later when he was 14 and went west.
According to the book, Progressive Men of Montana published about 1902, he “secured employment as a mule driver at a salary of $55.00 per month. He worked at this for eight months, and then accepted employment as a laborer for the government at the Shoshone Indian reservation, receiving for his work, wages at the rate of $65.00 per month. His services were so satisfactory and he exhibited such promising qualifications for a higher grade of employment, that he was made a scout and followed the hazardous life for a period of some seven or eight months, having many escapes from sudden and violent death at the hands of the Indians and meeting with many thrilling adventures. On one occasion he was three days on the road carrying a message to Gen. Howard from Canyon creek [near Billings, Montana], at which place many soldiers were killed. When winter came, he concluded to take a rest, and spent his time until spring at Carroll [Montana]. Then he carried the mail between Martinsdale [Montana] and White Sulphur Springs [Montana] for a while, and later arrived in the vicinity of Geyser [Montana] with a flock of sheep which were sold a good profit.”
When he homesteaded in Judith Basin County in 1881 near Geyser, Montana, he had reinvented himself as William John Braun, born 30 March 1859 in New York City, the son of Clements Braun and Eva Becker. On 24 Sep 1883 at Fort Benton, Montana, he married Nancy Viola Callen. The couple settled on the homestead which they were able to expand to over 640 acres through the years.
Nancy Viola died on the ranch in 1923. William in 1925. His obituary stated, “for nearly 50 years, Mr. Braun lived on the same ranch during which time he had many thrilling experiences with the Indians and the buffalo.” Great Falls Tribune, December 31, 1925
According to the book, Progressive Men of Montana published about 1902, he “secured employment as a mule driver at a salary of $55.00 per month. He worked at this for eight months, and then accepted employment as a laborer for the government at the Shoshone Indian reservation, receiving for his work, wages at the rate of $65.00 per month. His services were so satisfactory and he exhibited such promising qualifications for a higher grade of employment, that he was made a scout and followed the hazardous life for a period of some seven or eight months, having many escapes from sudden and violent death at the hands of the Indians and meeting with many thrilling adventures. On one occasion he was three days on the road carrying a message to Gen. Howard from Canyon creek [near Billings, Montana], at which place many soldiers were killed. When winter came, he concluded to take a rest, and spent his time until spring at Carroll [Montana]. Then he carried the mail between Martinsdale [Montana] and White Sulphur Springs [Montana] for a while, and later arrived in the vicinity of Geyser [Montana] with a flock of sheep which were sold a good profit.”
When he homesteaded in Judith Basin County in 1881 near Geyser, Montana, he had reinvented himself as William John Braun, born 30 March 1859 in New York City, the son of Clements Braun and Eva Becker. On 24 Sep 1883 at Fort Benton, Montana, he married Nancy Viola Callen. The couple settled on the homestead which they were able to expand to over 640 acres through the years.
Nancy Viola died on the ranch in 1923. William in 1925. His obituary stated, “for nearly 50 years, Mr. Braun lived on the same ranch during which time he had many thrilling experiences with the Indians and the buffalo.” Great Falls Tribune, December 31, 1925
Wilhelm Johann Schnabel, the son of Clements Schnabel and Eva Marie Gottlieb, was born 30 Mar 1859 in Wiesbaden, Germany. He and his mother, Eva, arrived in New York City aboard the Bremen from Bremen, Germany on 13 Jul 1868 when Wilhelm was 9. Wilhelm and his parents settled in New York City where Wilhelm attended normal school and Clements worked as a “ladies tailor”. On 1 Jul 1870, Eva Marie Gottlieb Schnabel died of tuberculosis in New York City. Clements remarried on 10 Dec 1871 to Caroline Becher at the First German Presbyterian church there. Wilhelm left home two years later when he was 14 and went west.
According to the book, Progressive Men of Montana published about 1902, he “secured employment as a mule driver at a salary of $55.00 per month. He worked at this for eight months, and then accepted employment as a laborer for the government at the Shoshone Indian reservation, receiving for his work, wages at the rate of $65.00 per month. His services were so satisfactory and he exhibited such promising qualifications for a higher grade of employment, that he was made a scout and followed the hazardous life for a period of some seven or eight months, having many escapes from sudden and violent death at the hands of the Indians and meeting with many thrilling adventures. On one occasion he was three days on the road carrying a message to Gen. Howard from Canyon creek [near Billings, Montana], at which place many soldiers were killed. When winter came, he concluded to take a rest, and spent his time until spring at Carroll [Montana]. Then he carried the mail between Martinsdale [Montana] and White Sulphur Springs [Montana] for a while, and later arrived in the vicinity of Geyser [Montana] with a flock of sheep which were sold a good profit.”
When he homesteaded in Judith Basin County in 1881 near Geyser, Montana, he had reinvented himself as William John Braun, born 30 March 1859 in New York City, the son of Clements Braun and Eva Becker. On 24 Sep 1883 at Fort Benton, Montana, he married Nancy Viola Callen. The couple settled on the homestead which they were able to expand to over 640 acres through the years.
Nancy Viola died on the ranch in 1923. William in 1925. His obituary stated, “for nearly 50 years, Mr. Braun lived on the same ranch during which time he had many thrilling experiences with the Indians and the buffalo.” Great Falls Tribune, December 31, 1925
According to the book, Progressive Men of Montana published about 1902, he “secured employment as a mule driver at a salary of $55.00 per month. He worked at this for eight months, and then accepted employment as a laborer for the government at the Shoshone Indian reservation, receiving for his work, wages at the rate of $65.00 per month. His services were so satisfactory and he exhibited such promising qualifications for a higher grade of employment, that he was made a scout and followed the hazardous life for a period of some seven or eight months, having many escapes from sudden and violent death at the hands of the Indians and meeting with many thrilling adventures. On one occasion he was three days on the road carrying a message to Gen. Howard from Canyon creek [near Billings, Montana], at which place many soldiers were killed. When winter came, he concluded to take a rest, and spent his time until spring at Carroll [Montana]. Then he carried the mail between Martinsdale [Montana] and White Sulphur Springs [Montana] for a while, and later arrived in the vicinity of Geyser [Montana] with a flock of sheep which were sold a good profit.”
When he homesteaded in Judith Basin County in 1881 near Geyser, Montana, he had reinvented himself as William John Braun, born 30 March 1859 in New York City, the son of Clements Braun and Eva Becker. On 24 Sep 1883 at Fort Benton, Montana, he married Nancy Viola Callen. The couple settled on the homestead which they were able to expand to over 640 acres through the years.
Nancy Viola died on the ranch in 1923. William in 1925. His obituary stated, “for nearly 50 years, Mr. Braun lived on the same ranch during which time he had many thrilling experiences with the Indians and the buffalo.” Great Falls Tribune, December 31, 1925
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
